Maricopa Community Colleges

Hoop of Learning

The Hoop of Learning Program is an early college high school bridge program administered by the Maricopa Community Colleges. Born from a need to help Native American students stay in school and pursue a college degree, the Hoop of Learning Program has celebrated over a decade of success and continues to grow. The Hoop of Learning Program model offers a conceptual program design tailored specifically to meet the academic and cultural needs of Native American students. Basic tenets of the model replicate the indigenous Cirle of Life philosophy long practiced by all Native American peoples of the North and South Americas. These tenets include:

• Traditional Native worldview of lifelong development
• Developing strong positive cultural identities and integrity
• Culturally relevant education
• Traditional Tribal community facilitated by a broad network of relations
• Individuals contributing to the well being of the community
• Native people serving as role models

The Hoop of Learning Program has now expanded to multiple colleges and serves Native American students throughout Maricopa County. Plans are underway to develop a comprehensive training program to broaden the network of available faculty and staff to serve as resources for the Hoop of Learning Program.

Native American ACE Intitiative

Coming Soon!